Things are getting worse and worse in Ethiopia - apparently food costs have risen dramatically, but goats and cattle (the main source of wealth for Ethiopia farmers) are worth much less because of the animals’ own malnutrition. You can see more pictures and coverage by the BBC by clicking the photo above.
It hurts to think that because of the weather, children are starving and parents are unable to care for their kids. It’s a strange world - I think every parent adopting from Ethiopia thinks about the inequalities we are born into by lottery and fate. Some family won’t be able to care for their children because they were born rural farmers in Ethiopia. Then we, who were born into middle-class families in Canada, will parent the children. They suffer for climate change and social inequity. We create it. The irony is biting.
People often talk about the “right to have children.” I don’t think there is any such right. It’s a priviledge dictated by circumstance… and a serious responsibility, especially if you are taking up where others left off.Â
Adoption is a wonderful way to build and rebuild families, but it is also based on loss and grief. Children aren’t losing their families because we are adopting them… but we are adopting them because they’ve lost their families. I don’t think that is very far from any parent’s mind.
The questions I try to remember to consider are “what is the cause?” and “what is the effect?” If you look at it that way, the drought / poverty is the cause. But we also can have an effect on these things. (Wild weather - climate change; poverty - debt reduction and sustainable development projects…) To act in these areas is also part of the responsibility of parenting.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Nicky,
I pose this question of you because you seem thoughtful, intelligent, and capable of answering this with depth and hopeful understanding. I honestly don’t mean this to be rude - let me please clarify that I am not trying to rub salt into any wound…or be difficult. I’m just personally trying to understand the situation you express in Africa. You’ve been helpful in the things you’ve explained in your blog before.
I understand how much people want to have children and want children of their own…
Would it not be helpful to “donate” the money you’re using for adoption(not you personally, but people in general who are adopting)to try to keep the family unit together in Africa? Would this not mean a lot of money and existance to these people? Not all children are orphans and many still have parents who are alive.
I’ve pondered this question for quite some time and wondered from your prespective what you think of this question?
I hope I haven’t offended you by asking you this…
Yours truly,
T. Kynde
July 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
“They suffer for climate change and social inequity. We create it. The irony is biting.”
Well said!
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
The cause as I see it is, Ethiopia being given $2 billion/yr yet most of it being used for armaments, of course with direct assent from most western countries including Canada which contributes $200m canadian.
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....s/arms.php
http://hrw.org/english/docs/20.....p19029.htm
http://www.slate.com/id/2178793/
http://tinyurl.com/ysmvtc
http://tinyurl.com/5aljl4
http://afp.google.com/article/.....P38Fz1wFBg
July 28th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Good post Nicky, very thoughtful.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hi Dan;
I guess the “cause” depends on what you define as the effect. I’m talking about people being poor and not being able to care for their children.
If your point is that war and unrest and violence also lead to poverty - I agree. I won’t extrapolate that to say “cut off aid” though - not sure if that is where you are heading or not. ? I think a huge amount of the foreign aid money does a huge amount of good - SOME of it even addresses problems at their core (although a bunch i simply to deal with the chaos, such as feeding people.)
Nicky
July 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
T -
I’m giving some serious thought to your question (not that I haven’t thought about it before!!! but because I want to half-decently answer - ) so I’ll do that in a subsequent post.
Nicky
August 4th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I just wanted to say I find it refreshing to read your blog and not get bombarded by the answer to everything being god. Too many times I start reading a new blog and get side swiped by someones religion. I know its their perogative to put what they want on their own blog, but i still find it irritating.
Thanks for sharing this article too.